Action Alerts

  • SC Roundtable is Friday, March 8, 2019 in Santa Barbara

    You're invited to our SBCAN South County Roundtable. Feel free to bring a lunch.

    SBCAN South County Roundtable

    Friday, March 8, 2019, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

    Santa Barbara Foundation, 1111 Chapala Street, Suite 200, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

    AGENDA

    (times are approximate)

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-President Dick Flacks. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Update on Just Cause and Inclusionary Housing efforts in the city of Santa Barbara. (30 min.)
    3. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    4. Discussion of Upcoming Oil Projects. (a) ExxonMobil’s proposal to truck crude oil to Santa Maria and Kern County, allowing their offshore platforms to resume production after the oil spill 3 ½ years ago, (b) Plains Pipeline’s proposal to rebuild its pipeline to Santa Maria and Kern County, also to allow offshore platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel to resume production, (c) the relationship of the two projects regarding advocacy, and (d) the Cat Canyon onshore proposals coming before the County in the immediate future, including the ERG project with its Final EIR before the County’s Planning Commission on March 13. (40 min.)
    5. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    6. Our next meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2019, at this same location.
  • Speak up for rental protections in Santa Barbara

    Help our partners at CAUSE and the Rental Housing Roundtable advocate for protections against unjust evictions. The City of Santa Barbara's Ordinance Committee with be considering the Tenant Protections Ordinance on Tuesday, February 26 at 12:30 PM.  Here is a flyer for a call to action.

    Help us emphasize that protections against unjust evictions needs to be part of the ordinance.

    2_26_Ordinance_Committee.png

  • Help us with Santa Maria Open Streets March 31

    We'd like your help giving away plants during the first Santa Maria Open Streets event on Sunday, March 31 in Santa Maria. 

    We'll be one of many groups providing fun activities for the community on Main Street -- in the street! This is the first time West Main Street will close for a community event that promises to have tons of activities for hundreds, if not thousands, of people who attend.

    Please contact us and let us know you can help. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We need people to help bring some tables, chairs and canopies to the event, to help set up the booths and to give away the plants during the event.

    Felicity Lazo is organizing a booth for SBCAN to give away organic seedlings from Plantel Nurseries and would like you to contact her at [email protected] or 805-441-6782 (voice and text) to let her know how you can help. 

    Kathy Sharum is organizing a booth for SBCAN, along with the California Native Plants Society, to give away native plants. We'll let you know later if she needs additional help.

    SBCAN has been involved in the planning of this event, which is coordinated by SBCAG Traffic Solutions. 

    Santa_Maria-OS-Map_Flyer_2-8-19b.jpg

  • SBCAN Membership Meeting CANCELLED due to storm

    We are cancelling tomorrow's (Saturday, February 2) membership meeting because of the incoming storm with its high wind warning and flash flood watch.

    We are saddened by the accident on Thursday on the Nojoqui Grade that killed two people and injured a third when a car hydroplaned from the water on the highway. And Montecito residents are already evacuating today.

    We don't want to put anyone at risk by traveling to our meeting. We plan to reschedule it at a future date.

    Thank you for your support of Santa Barbara County Action Network. We will let you know when we reschedule the meeting.

    Be careful. Be safe.

    Ken Hough, SBCAN Executive Director and Jeanne Sparks, SBCAN Associate Director

  • SBCAN 2019 Membership Mtg. Feb. 2 - Meet Gregg Hart, 2nd District County Supervisor

    GreggHart.jpg

    Second District County Supervisor Gregg Hart will be the guest speaker at Santa Barbara County Action Network's annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, February 2. We hope you will join us to welcome the newest county supervisor and hear his plans and priorities for the new year.

    The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at St. Marks-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave. in Los Olivos. The social hour with refreshments will be a great chance to renew friendships and build support for SBCAN’s future. Mark your calendar!

    If you know you're coming, let us know by emailing [email protected] so we can get an idea of how many are coming. If you don't know now, that's okay. Just show up. We'll be happy to see you!

    If you haven't paid your dues for 2019 yet, please do so soon. We appreciate the support you have shown us over the years that has made it possible for us to continue nurturing our strong local network of progressive folks and creating bridges between environmental and social justice activism.

    If you haven't been a member before, now would be a good time to join!

    For seventeen years Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) has been the preeminent nonprofit organization working on both sustainability and social justice issues throughout the county. We have many partner organizations, to be sure, but we always strive to be countywide and working on a wide range of progressive issues — especially looking for issues that might fall through the cracks otherwise. Please look at the attached Issues and Actions paper highlighting what we have been working on. We are especially proud of our leadership on several North County issues.

    With increasing competition for foundation support, we are all the more reliant on our members, major donors, and fundraisers. Therefore, we hope that you will make a membership donation that suits your budget and helps SBCAN continue its educational and advocacy roles.

    It is easy — as always — to contribute at: https://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_annual_dues.  

    There is also an option for automatic monthly payments athttps://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_monthly_dues.

    If you prefer to mail a check, please send it payable to: SBCAN, P.O. Box 6174, Santa Maria, CA 93456.

    We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on February 2 at our annual membership meeting.

    Sincerely,

    Janet Blevins and Dick Flacks, Co-Presidents

  • Women's March in Santa Maria Saturday, Jan. 19

    We invite you to come out for the first Women's March in Santa Maria on Saturday, January 19 starting at 10 a.m. at Buena Vista Park, 800 S. Pine St. to support progressive values and celebrate achievements of the 2018 elections.
     
    City Councilwoman Gloria Soto will be a featured speaker, along with others.
     
    Around 11 a.m., participants will march east on Morrison Avenue to Broadway, then south to Enos Drive, then west to Minami Park at 600 W. Enos Drive.
     
    Around noon, there will be several speakers at Minami Park, including Rep. Salud Carbajal, Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann and Planned Parenthood Central Coast CEO Jenna Tosh.
  • Support Concept Plan for Downtown Santa Maria

    For years Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) and our allies have been advocating for safer and more pedestrian/bicycle-friendly streets throughout the county, but especially in Santa Maria, where two state highways cross through the center of the city.
     
    The Concept Plan for downtown is a great start: narrower -- but still safe -- lanes for cars and trucks, wider sidewalks, bike lanes, clearly delineated crosswalks, and some on-street parking.
     
    The Planning Commission approved the Concept Plan and Tuesday, January 15, the City Council will consider approval of the plan, which can be viewed here:
     
     
    Please join us in encouraging the City Council to approve the Concept Plan. The meeting starts at 5:30 PM at 110 E. Cook Street, and the agenda is here:
     
  • SBCAN Roundtables this week

    Hi {{recipient.first_name_or_friend}} --

    Here is our draft agenda for Thursday's meeting. We hope you will be able to join us and participate in discussions about important issues and actions coming up later this month and in coming months.

    At the last meeting (our first at Giavanni's) the pizza was on me. This time, come early, if you'd like, and order what you'd like. We will meet in the private room.

    Hope to see you there!

    Ken

    SBCAN North County Roundtable

    Thursday, January 10, 2019, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

    Giavanni’s Pizzeria, 1108 E. Clark Ave. at Bradley Road, Orcutt

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-president Janet Blevins. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Housing and Homelessness Issues. (15 min.)
    3. Upcoming Hearings and Comment Deadlines for Oil Wells Proposed for Cat Canyon. (25 min.)
    4. ExxonMobil Trucking Proposal. (10 min.)
    5. Downtown Santa Maria Streetscape Plan. City Council hearing is January 15. (10 min.)
    6. Santa Maria Open Streets Event, March 31. (5 min.)
    7. SBCAN North County Awards Dinner. Jeanne Sparks (5 min.)
    8. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    9. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    10. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 14, although that being Valentines Day, we could discuss moving it up or back a week. 

    Here is the draft agenda for Friday's meeting.  Note the new location. We will start with an update on Santa Barbara's Average Unit Density program; there will be new information available in a staff report for the Council meeting the following week.
    SBCAN Board Member Emily Allen will lead a discussion on housing and homelessness issues throughout the county.
    We have also allotted ample time to discuss the important oil issues that are coming before the County in the immediate future. Several of the leaders in the efforts to convince the County to deny proposals to greatly expand oil production will be attending to lead this discussion.
    Please join us as we organize for this new year.
    Ken

    SBCAN South County Roundtable

    Friday, January 11, 2019 Noon to 1:30 p.m.

    NEW LOCATION!

    Santa Barbara Foundation, 1111 Chapala Street, Suite 200, Santa Barbara

    AGENDA

     (Times are approximate, and feel free to bring your lunch)

    1. Call to Order by Chair and SBCAN Co-President Dick Flacks. Introductions; Agenda Review (5 min.)
    2. Important Updates on Average Unit Density Program in Santa Barbara. A new city staff report will be available by January 10 for a City Council meeting on January 15. (10 min.)
    3. Housing and Homelessness Issues. SBCAN Board Member Emily Allen will join us to lead this discussion. (20 min.)
    4. Discussion of Upcoming Oil Projects. This discussion will include the ExxonMobil proposal to truck crude oil to Santa Maria and Kern County, allowing their offshore platforms to resume production after the oil spill 3 ½ years ago, as well as the Cat Canyon onshore proposals coming before the County in the immediate future. Los Padres Chapter of Sierra Club is (30 min.)
    5. Downtown Mobilehome Park issue. Sharon Rose (5 min.)
    6. SBCAN North County Awards Dinner. Jeanne Sparks (5 min.)
    7. Brief updates from participants. (2 to 5 min. each)
    8. Open discussion about other items of interest. All (5 min.)
    9. Next meeting. Our next meeting is scheduled for February 8, also at this new location.
  • Homelessness Forum and Homeless Point in Time Count

    Dear Jeanne --

    Here are two events we think you may be interested in:
    1. League of Women Voters Housing and Homelessness Forum on January 16
    2. Point In Time Count on January 24 with training throughout January

    LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
    HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMUNITY FORUM
    Wednesday, January 16 from Noon to 2 p.m.
    Santa Barbara Library, 40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara
     
    The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara is currently in the process of updating their local “Homelessness” policy position to better reflect current best practices. As part of this process they are bringing together a panel to discuss the topic. They will provide an update on the new Home For Good Santa Barbara County Coordinated Entry System. Experts in the area will address the Coordinated Entry system including: Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter and Housing and discuss local data and long-term solutions. 
     
    Panelists will include: 
    • Kimberlee Albers, Homeless Assistance Program Manager, County of Santa Barbara. 
    • Chuck Flacks, Director of Programs, PATH Santa Barbara. 
    • Rob Fredericks, Executive Director/CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara. 
    • Sara Grasso, LMFT, Team Supervisor — Homeless Services, Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.
    • Valerie Kissell, Executive Director, Youth And Family Services YMCA.
    • Emily Allen, LWVSB Social Policy Co-Chair and Program Director of the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County Home For Good Program, will moderate.
    They will also discuss the 2019 Point In Time Count and opportunities for people of all experience levels to volunteer.
    The forum--free and open to the public--is co-presented with the Santa Barbara Public Library. Sound is provided by Gary Atkins Sound Systems. Physically accessible parking is available from the Public Garage accessed from Anacapa Street next to the Library.

  • Membership Renewal 2019

    For seventeen years Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) has been the preeminent nonprofit organization working on both sustainability and social justice issues throughout the county. We have many partner organizations, to be sure, but we always strive to be countywide and working on a wide range of progressive issues — especially looking for issues that might fall through the cracks otherwise. Please look at the Issues and Actions paper below highlighting what we have been working on. We are especially proud of our leadership on several North County issues.

    On February 2, 2019, we will convene our annual Membership Meeting in Los Olivos, and we really hope we will see you on that special day. Our guest speaker is Gregg Hart, our newest County Supervisor. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. at Saint-Marks-in-the Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave. in Los Olivos. The social hour will be a great chance to renew friendships and build support for SBCAN’s future.

    With increasing competition for foundation support, we are all the more reliant on our members, major donors, and fundraisers. Therefore, we hope that you will make a membership donation that suits your budget and helps SBCAN continue its educational and advocacy roles.

    It is easy — as always — to contribute at: https://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_annual_dues.  

    There is also an option for automatic monthly payments at https://sbcan.nationbuilder.com/membership_monthly_dues.

    If you prefer to mail a check, please send it payable to: SBCAN, P.O. Box 6174, Santa Maria, CA 93456.

    We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on February 2 at our annual membership meeting. Mark your calendar!

    Sincerely,

    Dick Flacks, Co-President